Salt Lake City (SLC) to Sacramento (SMF): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Sacramento (SMF) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2024, 95% of arrivals were on time; in July 2024 that fell to 78% — a 17-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 86% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (90% vs 82%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 86%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 10 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 5.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 47m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 532 mi
Best airline from SLC to SMF
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 88% | 8 min | 0.0% | 89 |
| Delta Air Lines | 87% | 9 min | 0.8% | 3,208 |
| Southwest Airlines | 81% | 12 min | 0.3% | 1,074 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SLC to SMF
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (98% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 87% | 8 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 8 min |
| Wednesday | 87% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 85% | 9 min |
| Friday | 84% | 12 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 86% | 10 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft38%
- Airline operations51%
- National airspace system7%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SLC to SMF delayed?
- 14% of SLC–SMF flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 10 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SLC to SMF?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 88%, based on 89 flights. 3 airlines flew SLC–SMF frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SLC to SMF?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (98% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (54%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SLC to SMF?
- The scheduled SLC–SMF flight time averages 1h 47m over 532 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 14% of the time.
- How often are SLC to SMF flights cancelled?
- 0.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from SLC to SMF?
- July 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 78% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 95%. If your dates are flexible, that 17-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,371 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.